California: Meta has announced that it is shutting down its Messenger app for macOS and Windows, ending standalone desktop support for the popular messaging platform.

According to the company, the Messenger desktop apps will officially retire on December 15, after which users will no longer be able to access them.

A Meta support page confirmed that users will receive an in-app notification before the shutdown, and access will be completely blocked after the deadline.

Following the closure, users will still be able to chat via Messenger on Facebook or through Messenger.com.

To protect message history, Meta has advised users to enable Secure Storage and set up a PIN code so their chats can be safely archived.

The process is simple:

* Click the gear icon above the profile picture in the desktop app.

* Select Privacy and Safety, then open End-to-End Encrypted Chats.

* Click on Message Storage and turn on Secure Storage.

Meta had separated Messenger from Facebook in 2014 to create a dedicated messaging platform. Later, the company experimented with merging Messenger and Instagram, but the plan was later dropped.

Analysts believe the move reflects Meta’s shift toward mobile-first platforms and declining interest in maintaining standalone desktop applications, as most users now prefer mobile or web-based messaging.